Mobile Portable Whip Antenna
Build and tune a simple base-loaded quarter-wave vertical whip for HF mobile and portable use.
Description
Demonstrates the construction of a base-loaded quarter-wave vertical whip antenna, suitable for both mobile and portable HF operations. This design utilizes a vehicle body as a ground plane for mobile use or a counterpoise for field deployment. The article details the selection of materials, such as a glass fibre tubing former and 24 s.w.g enamelled copper wire for the loading coil, with specific turn counts suggested for 20m (around 30 turns) and 40m (around 50-60 turns).
It outlines a practical tuning method using an SWR bridge and even an audible signal approach, emphasizing careful adjustment of coil turn spacing or whip length to achieve optimal SWR. The resource also mentions the use of an antenna analyzer for more precise tuning, contrasting it with the SWR method.